False Messiahs
O’ Theophilus,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1, ESV).
I write to you today after having watched the second installment in the Dune trilogy and pondering some of its themes. In its plotline, Dune 2 follows the journey of young Paul Atriedes as he learns whether he is the promised “Mahdi,” or “Messiah,” of the native people of the planet, Arrakis. While prophecies foretell of this “Mahdi” rescuing the people of Arrakis from oppression and their desolate environment, Paul wrestles with the weight of the expectation for him to take on this “Messiah” mantle. Is he Arrakis’ Messiah through prophetic fulfillment by nature of his identity, or, is this “Mahdi” legend mere propaganda ready to be used to unify the people under his leadership, should he choose it? The ambiguity in Paul’s destiny begs interesting questions and offers points for reflection, but the whole talk of a Messiah complex might hit closer to home in our own lives than we realize.
Like young Paul Atriedes in Dune 2, we all come across difficult circumstances, hurting people, injustice, oppressive adversaries, and brokenness in our lives and in the lives of those around us. In the face of such horrible realities, we can feel the need or desire to “save” others and ourselves, to be a “Messiah” of our own in our own contexts and in our own journeys. Pride manifested, left unchecked, pushes us to see ourselves as something we are not, something we could not be even if we tried. Pride lures us into being false Messiahs, saviors who will ultimately fail to save others and ourselves. In a world of darkness, we must rely on a true light, a real Messiah with the power to restore all things to paradise and rescue the oppressed from evil. This light, this Messiah, has a Name, and His Name is Jesus. We must join John the Baptist in saying, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20, ESV), and instead look to and use our lives to point others to the One who is, the Messiah Jesus who can really bring deliverance and restoration.
In my power and pride, I will fail. I will disappoint. I will be a false Messiah, and I have been and will continue to be. I will fail to save in my own strength. And so will you. Never forget your need for the true Messiah and the need of others around you for Him. We might not be Messiahs, but we know the Messiah. Others and we ourselves need to follow His lead humbly instead, most excellent Theophilus.
Grace be with you,
caleb